The Three Lives of Thomasina

"Three Human Lives Wonderfully Bewitched by a Enchanted Cat!"

1963 1h 37m EN

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 50

FantasyDramaThrillerMysteryFamily

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Thomasina the cat brings a family together through her mysterious death and reappearance.

“Three Human Lives Wonderfully Bewitched by a Enchanted Cat!”

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Cast

Patrick McGoohan
Andrew McDhui
Susan Hampshire
Lori MacGregor
Karen Dotrice
Mary McDhui
Laurence Naismith
Reverend Angus Paddie
Jean Anderson
Mrs. MacKenzie
Matthew Garber
Geordie McNab
Denis Gilmore
Jamie McNab
Vincent Winter
Hughie Stirling

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Don Chaffey
Writers: Robert Westerby
Languages: French, Gaelic, English
Countries: United States of America, United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

63 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: French, Gaelic, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United States of America, United Kingdom.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Don Chaffey, shot by Paul Beeson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Paul J. Smith. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Gordon Stone shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Patrick McGoohan and Susan Hampshire and Karen Dotrice carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Don Chaffey directs. Paul Beeson behind the camera. Paul J. Smith scores. Gordon Stone cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America, United Kingdom. Dialogue in French, Gaelic, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

163 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Dialogue crosses 3 languages: French, Gaelic, English.
3International production across 2 countries: United States of America, United Kingdom.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Don Chaffey, shot by Paul Beeson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Paul J. Smith. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Gordon Stone shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Patrick McGoohan and Susan Hampshire and Karen Dotrice carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "Three Human Lives Wonderfully Bewitched by a Enchanted Cat!".
10IMDB entry: tt0057579 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Only 50 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Paul Beeson
Original score: Paul J. Smith
Editing: Gordon Stone
Costume design: Margaret Furse
Runtime: 97 min · 1h 37m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
IMDB: The Three Lives of Thomasina (1963)

Also by

Don Chaffey

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

r96sk2020-07-21
★ 8/10
Cracking little film. <em>'The Three Lives of Thomasina'</em> is very cute and surprisingly existential. It's well shot and paced, with a terrific adult cast - the child members do cheapen things a little, but not to point where it affects enjoyment. Patrick McGoohan (Dr. MacDhui) and Susan Hampshire (Lori) are both excellent, they suit their respective roles perfectly. Laurence Naismith, who I enjoyed in 1961's <em>'Greyfriars Bobby: The True Story of a Dog'</em>, appears in a somewhat minor role but still makes it memorable. Elspeth March does a fine job voicing Thomasina, too. It sends a positive message and actually delves relatively deep into the human/animal side. Not saying it's a masterpiece in that regard or anything, I just didn't expect it would have that sorta spirit. This was technically released in 1963 ('properly' in 1964), a year that I didn't enjoy in terms of Disney live-action films so this is easily the best in relative to that. If you love cats you'll enjoy this, you should give it a watch regardless.

Production companies